Beverage can having a covering for a dispensing opening

ABSTRACT

A beverage can is provided with an opening tab rotatably attached to a rotational shaft formed on a can end, and a covering rotatably attached to the rotational shaft, being positioned beneath the opening tab, and adapted to be rotated together with the opening tab, the covering has a size larger than that of a dispensing opening through which contents of the beverage can are dispensed and an upwardly convex shape allowing the covering to be closely contacted to the can end during its rotational movement.

CLAIMING FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0001] The applicant claims and requests a foreign priority, through the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, based on a patent application filed in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) with the filing date of Feb. 26, 2001, with the utility model application number 2001-0005073, by the applicant. (See the Attached Declaration)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] (a) Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a beverage can made of, e.g., aluminum, and more particularly, to a covering for a dispensing opening of a beverage can, through which contents of the beverage can are dispensed, capable of preventing alien material from being introduced into the beverage can through the dispensing opening and of preventing the contents from being inadvertently poured out of the beverage can due to abrupt movements of the can or shocks, by blocking the dispensing opening.

[0004] (b) Description of the Related Art

[0005] In FIG. 1A, there is shown a prior art aluminum beverage can 1. The aluminum beverage can 1 is provided with an opening tab 2 for opening a dispensing opening 3 through which contents of the beverage can is dispensed. As shown in FIG. 1B, the dispensing opening 3 is opened by a pressing force exerted by the opening tab 2.

[0006] In using conventional aluminum cans 1, a consumer or user normally has a burden that, once a dispensing opening has been opened, contents of the beverage can have to be consumed as soon as possible. That is, when the consumer tries to enjoy the contents, e.g., a second time after he has left the beverage can alone for a little bit long period of time, he usually thinks if alien material such as dirt, sand, a fly, an insect, a bug, etc., is introduced into the beverage can. Actually, there are many cases that the fly or the bug enters the beverage can in fields or alien material including the sand or the like is introduced into the can in beach. Further, if the beverage can held in a hand of the consumer or kept on a surface of a fixed article can be inadvertently fallen, due to abrupt movements or shock caused by a person next to the consumer of the beverage can, e.g., in the room or train, the contents are poured out of the beverage can. For these reasons, it is helpful in sanitarily using the beverage can if the dispensing opening of the beverage can is covered with a cover or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage can having a covering made of thin aluminum plate capable of covering a dispensing opening of the beverage can, which has a size larger than that of the dispensing opening and an upwardly convex shape allowing the covering to be closely contacted to an can end during its rotational movement. The covering can be rotated together with a tab for opening the dispensing opening of the beverage can when the consumer rotates the tab on a plane of the can end, thereby opening the dispensing opening to allow the consumer to enjoy the contents and closing the same to protect the contamination of the contents. To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a beverage can comprising: an opening tab rotatably attached to a rotational shaft formed on a can end; and a covering rotatably attached to the rotational shaft, being positioned beneath the opening tab, and adapted to be rotated together with said opening tab, the covering has a size larger than that of a dispensing opening through which contents of the beverage can are dispensed and an upwardly convex shape allowing the covering to be closely contacted to the can end during its rotational movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

[0009]FIGS. 1A and 1B show top planar views of a prior art aluminum beverage can, respectively;

[0010]FIGS. 2A, 2C and 2D depict top planar views of components of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2B illustrates a frontal elevational view of an inventive covering;

[0012]FIG. 3A presents a top planar view of the inventive covering attached beneath an opening tab of the beverage can;

[0013]FIGS. 3B through 3D represent top planar views of the inventive covering and the opening tab showing a position relationship therebetween;

[0014]FIG. 4 gives a top planar view of the inventive covering being rotated together with the opening tab to open a dispensing opening; and

[0015]FIG. 5 gives a top planar view of the inventive covering being rotated together with the opening tab to close the dispensing opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] A preferred embodiment of a covering for a dispensing opening of the beverage can in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] The covering 10 for covering a dispensing opening 35 of the beverage can 100 serves to close the dispensing opening 35 that has been already opened or torn off. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the covering 10 is made of thin aluminum plate and has a size larger than that of the dispensing opening 35 that will be made when a tearing panel 35 is torn off. It is preferable that the thin aluminum plate has a thickness of 0.34 mm and a margin larger than that of the dispensing opening 35 by 1 mm. The reason why the covering 10 is made of aluminum is that the beverage can 100 is made of aluminum that can be re-cycled. Further, the covering 10 has an upwardly convex shape allowing the covering 10 to be closely contacted to a can end 30 during its rotational movement. The covering 10 also has a rivet hole 11. The covering 10 is rotatably attached beneath an opening tab 40 to a rotational shaft or a rivet 20 on the can end 30 of the beverage can 100. Accordingly, the opening tab 40 and the covering 10 can be rotated together about the rivet 20. A conventional opening tab as shown in FIG. 2D may be used as such opening tab 40.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2C, in order for the covering 10 to rotate properly, the can end 30 in accordance with the present invention has an enlarged sunken surface area B in stead of a conventional narrow sunken surface area A. The sunken surface area on the can end 30 may be different in size and shape depending upon a model or a manufacturer. Therefore, a proper size and shape of the sunken surface area has to be selected by taking a radius of the rotational movement of the covering into consideration.

[0019] In FIG. 3A, there is shown the covering 10 and the opening tab 40 rotatably attached to the can end 30, while the covering 10 being positioned beneath the opening tab 40. As shown in FIGS. 3B through 3D, the rivet hole 11 of the covering 10 and a rivet hole of the opening tab 40 may be aligned with each other above the can end 30 for the riveting process. At the moment, the covering 10 is positioned beneath the opening tab 40.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the covering 10 and the opening tab 40 mounted in this manner can be rotated together on the can end 10, while the covering 10 being closely contacted to the sunken surface area B of the can end 30.

[0021] The operation of the inventive covering 10 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A, 4 and 5.

[0022] First, in order to make a dispensing opening 35, the consumer pulls up the opening tab 40 by keeping his finger into an insertion slot 42 of the opening tab 40 in a state shown in FIG. 3A. An end of the opening tab 40 is depressed down, make the dispensing opening 35 and the consumer can enjoy contents of the beverage can 100.

[0023] When the consumer wants to close the dispensing opening 35 under a situation where the contents are not fully consumed, he can close the dispensing opening 35 by rotating the opening tab 40. That is, when the consumer rotates the opening tab 40 by 180° from its initial position, the covering 10 is also rotated by 180°, fully closing the dispensing opening 35, as shown in FIG. 5, through a condition shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] The inventive covering may be applied to various beverage cans having different use, size and shape.

[0025] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage can comprising: an opening tab rotatably attached to a rotational shaft formed on a can end; and a covering rotatably attached to the rotational shaft, being positioned beneath the opening tab, and adapted to be rotated together with said opening tab, the covering has a size larger than that of a dispensing opening through which contents of the beverage can are dispensed and an upwardly convex shape allowing the covering to be closely contacted to the can end during its rotational movement.
 2. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the covering is made of thin aluminum plate.
 3. The beverage can of claim 2, wherein the thin aluminum plate has a thickness of 0.34 mm and its margin larger than that of the dispensing opening by 1 mm. 